Five Rivers: Wisconsin and Minnesota Biking Adventure

DAY 1

We meet after lunch in Sparta, Wisconsin, the self-proclaimed Bicycle Capital of America and our home for the night. We'll have an introductory talk and, if you are renting a bicycle, fit it to you. Our first ride takes us on the famous Elroy-Sparta Trail. This trail is considered the first converted rail trail in the country, starting a movement that now boasts over 24,000 miles of rail trails in the US alone! In 1964, trains were still running but by the next year, the Elroy-Sparta trail was already in progress. The full trail end-to-end is 32.5 miles long, crosses over the Kickapoo River, and has three exciting railroad tunnels, all over 140 years old, two that are 1/4 mile long and one that is a full three quarters of a mile. We will be going through two of these tunnels on our ride - you will want to bring a headlamp and perhaps even a jacket!

Distance: 20 or 40 Miles

DAY 2

From Sparta we head west, changing both rivers and trails. We are now following the La Crosse River and cycling on the La Crosse Trail, a continuation of the same Chicago to Minneapolis railroad route. We'll pass through hardwood forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands. En route, you can choose to stop at the Le Coulee Cheese Castle, where you can purchase over 50 varieties of Wisconsin cheese. It might make for a good picnic along the path. The trail ends in the small city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, on the banks of the Mississippi River.  You'll then have the choice to add on more miles along the Great River Trail or you can hop off your bike and trade your wheels for an authentic river paddleboat and take a sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River. Our hotel is right on Riverfront Park and we are within walking distance of a wine bar, distillery, and plenty of shops. This evening, we'll walk to dinner at one of La Crosse's excellent restaurants.

Distances: 29, 41, or 64 Miles

DAY 3

Today we ride a short distance along the Mississippi River before crossing this mighty barrier that divides east from west, departing Wisconsin and entering Minnesota. This is the only day of the tour we are not riding the whole time on a rail trail to get to our next destination. The routes are scenic if a bit hillier than the rest of our tour days. In Minnesota, we pass through the town of La Crescent and then head up one of the famous bluffs that line the Mississippi. Once we are on top, our cycling is much easier as we make our way through rural America and on down to our home for the night in Rushford, Minnesota. Once we get to the town of Houston, you'll have the choice of shuttling to our hotel, hopping on the Root River Trail and riding to Rushford, or - if you are looking for longer mileage - extending your ride to the small town of Caledonia, Minnesota where you can have lunch at the Farmhouse Eatery, located in a Victorian home in the heart of town.

Distances: 22, 35, or 66 Miles

DAY 4

Today we continue to ride on one of the best trail networks in the country, the Root River Trail. The trail is paved, making for smooth and fast riding. We follow the Root River for the entire morning, giving us scenic views of the riverscape and limestone bluffs above. En route, you can stop for pie at the Aroma Pie Shoppe in Whalan, one of the storied stops of the trail. However, the highlight of the day might actually be at the finish when we reach Lanesboro. We love Lanesboro, one of the cutest small towns in America! It has outdoor recreation, art galleries, fun restaurants, nice lodging, and even the high-quality Commonwealth Theater. Lanesboro makes for a perfect last stop on the tour. If you need some extra mileage, you can continue on the southern branch of the trail network, cycling from Lanesboro south to Preston or even Harmony, a town famous for its Amish residents. This evening, we'll have a nice final dinner to celebrate our accomplishments!

Distances: 19, 40, or 64 Miles

DAY 5

But we are not done! We still have time for a final ride on the western spur of the Root River Trail Network. We'll cycle to trail's end in Fountain, riding along the river and then passing through open agricultural lands, and back to Lanesboro in time to shower and check out.

Distances: 9 or 22 Miles